2026 Fall English Cream Goldendoodle Puppies

Four Week Update: 4 Weeks!

Four weeks already! Heidi’s puppies are officially a month old, and we have entered one of the absolute sweetest, most fun stages of puppyhood. Their little personalities are blossoming, their physical abilities are exploding, and they are becoming so wonderfully social and affectionate!

Expanding Their World

This week, the puppies were given a slightly larger play area just outside of their whelping box to explore! While they still spend plenty of time cozying up inside their whelping box where they feel most safe and comfortable, having this extra space gives them room to stretch their legs, practice walking, and wrestle with their siblings. Because they are growing so fast and becoming more inquisitive by the day, we will be expanding this play area even further as the week goes on!

First Outdoor Picnic!

After a week of high temperatures, we were blessed with a beautiful day and took the puppies outside for their very first outdoor picnic! Experiencing real grass, fresh breeze, new smells, and natural sunshine for the first time is such an exciting milestone in their socialization journey. They were so curious sniffing around the grass and soaking up the warm sun before all piling together for a cozy outdoor nap.

First Big Kid Food: Goat Milk & Kibble Purée!

This week, the puppies took their first step toward weaning! We introduced them to solid food once a day—a delicious purée of high-quality puppy kibble blended with fresh, nutrient-rich goat milk. They took to it with absolute enthusiasm! Eating from a shallow dish is always a messy, adorable learning process (with plenty of puppy paws landing straight in the bowl), but they are quickly getting the hang of it and loving their daily “porridge” time.

So Social & Full of Love!

One of our absolute favorite parts of Week 4 is watching how eager the puppies are to interact with our family. They are becoming so affectionate and truly seek us out! Whenever we sit down near their space, they eagerly crawl right onto our laps, shower us with sweet little puppy kisses, and roll right over demanding belly rubs. They love being near us, and their little tail wags whenever we enter the room just melt our hearts.

Week Four Conclusion

From exploring outside their whelping box and eating real food to their first outdoor picnic and cuddling on our laps, Week 4 has been packed with major developmental milestones. Heidi is still doing a wonderful job mothering her pups while enjoying a bit more freedom as they start weaning. We can’t wait to see how much more their confidence and personalities grow over the coming week!

Preparing for Your Puppy: Shopping List, Nutrition & The “Swap Game”

Now that your puppy is 4 weeks old, it’s the ideal time to start gathering essential supplies, getting your home ready, and learning a few simple behavioral strategies that will make your puppy’s transition into your home smooth, safe, and positive!

1. What to Buy & Free Puppy Training Podcasts

Puppy Shopping List: To take the guesswork out of getting ready, we have put together a complete checklist of all our favorite tested-and-approved puppy supplies! You can find our top recommendations for crates, playpens, grooming tools, chews, and more on our New Puppy Shopping List.

(Please note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases when you shop through our links, at no extra cost to you—thank you so much for supporting our program!)

Free Training Podcasts: We highly recommend tuning into Baxter & Bella’s online resources before your puppy comes home! You can listen to their free Podcast Roadmap, which covers a wide range of essential topics—from navigating your first 24 hours to crate training, biting, and house manners.

2. Puppy Food & Nutrition Basics

What We Feed: We raise our puppies on TLC Whole Life Puppy Food. It is a premium, nutrient-dense formula packed with quality animal proteins, healthy fats, and essential nutrients that support rapid growth, brain development, and sensitive young tummies. We strongly recommend ordering a bag 2 to 3 weeks before pickup day so it arrives at your doorstep well before your puppy comes home!

How to Transition (If Switching Foods): If you eventually plan to feed a different brand, it is crucial to do so gradually over 7 to 10 days once your puppy has settled into your home. A sudden food change causes digestive upset and loose stools. Slowly mix the new food into their TLC food, increasing the ratio of new food bit by bit each day.

What to Look for in Quality Dog Food: When evaluating dog food brands, always look for:

• Named whole animal protein sources (such as chicken meal, lamb, or salmon) listed as the first ingredients rather than generic “meat by-products.”
• Balanced healthy fats (like chicken fat or salmon oil) rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for coat and brain health.
• Absence of artificial colors, synthetic preservatives (BHA/BHT), corn, wheat, or low-quality filler grains.
• Formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional standards for growth and development.

3. Preparing Your Home: Redirecting Chewing

Puppies explore the world entirely with their mouths—especially as their baby teeth come in! Chewing is a completely natural behavior, so rather than scolding your puppy when they pick up an unacceptable item (like a shoe, rug corner, or furniture leg), your goal is to immediately redirect them:

The Swap Rule: Gently remove the unacceptable item and immediately replace it with an approved toy or chew that matches what they were looking for.

Provide a Variety of Textures: Keep a mix of both hard and soft chews on hand to mimic whatever item your puppy is craving. If they are gnawing on a hard wooden table leg, offer a hard nylon toy or a wooden chew stick. If they are chomping on a soft couch cushion, swap it for a plush toy or a soft rubber ring.

4. Preventing Resource Guarding: The Trading Game (Don’t Chase!)

When a puppy grabs something they shouldn’t have, the natural human reaction is to chase after them to grab it back. Never chase your puppy! To a pup, being chased turns the object into a high-stakes game of keep-away or can make them feel threatened, leading to resource guarding (growling or running away to hide their “treasure”).

Instead, practice the “Trade Game” using a positive marker word:

1. Offer a Higher-Value Swap: Approach your puppy calmly with something irresistible—a high-value treat (like a piece of freeze-dried liver or cheese) or an even more exciting toy.

2. Mark the Moment: Hold the treat right near your puppy’s nose. As soon as they let go of the item in their mouth to take the treat, say your marker cue “YES!” in a happy, upbeat voice, and give them the reward.

3. Return the Item (When Safe): If the item they had wasn’t dangerous (like one of their own toys), hand it right back to them after they finish their treat! This teaches your puppy a powerful lesson: giving up an item to you doesn’t mean they lose it forever—it just means something wonderful happens whenever you approach!

4. Dangerous Items: If they grabbed something unsafe (like a sock), quietly slide the item out of sight while they are enjoying their treat and immediately give them an approved chew toy instead.

Three Week Update: 3 Weeks!

Heidi’s royal litter is officially 3 weeks old! It has been another whirlwind week full of exciting milestones, big developmental leaps, and so much fun. Our 4 little ones—Phillip, Winston Churchill, Elizabeth, and Margaret—are seeing more clearly, tuning into the world of sound, and becoming sweeter and more social by the day!

Open Eyes, Hearing & Early Play

Each day this week, the puppies’ eyes have been opening wider and wider. At this point, they are nearly all the way open, and it is beyond sweet seeing them focus on the world around them—and on our faces when we lean over the box!

Along with their sight, the puppies’ hearing has officially online! To support their developing brains, we have started playing classical music for them during quiet periods of the day. Just as classical music supports cognitive development in human infants, it offers wonderful benefits for growing puppies, too.

In addition to classical tunes, we have begun gently playing sound desensitization playlists for the litter. This playlist introduces them to everyday noises that can sometimes startle or stress dogs—such as thunderstorms, fireworks, crying babies, sirens, and traffic noises. By pairing these sounds with a warm, cozy environment while they nurse and rest, we help ensure they grow up to be confident, unshakeable adults who take everyday sounds right in stride.

Their movement is progressing just as quickly! Those wobbly first steps aren’t nearly so wobbly anymore. While there are still plenty of adorable stumbles and head bobs, all four pups can get around with impressive speed! There is so much playing, wrestling, and exploring happening in the whelping box, and they are getting very close to needing a bigger play area.

Week 3 Conclusion

Heidi’s puppies are officially entering what we love to call the “fun stage!” Now that their senses are active and their legs are moving, we are ramping up our socialization efforts to give them a wide variety of gentle, positive new experiences every single day.

Next week promises to be an extra big one—we are planning to move the puppies to a larger exercise area, introduce them to their very first taste of fresh goat milk, and (weather permitting!) take them outside to experience the great outdoors.

Preparing For Your Puppy

Finding & Scheduling Your Vet

Now is the ideal time to select a veterinarian and reach out to their office. At 6–7 weeks old, your puppy will receive a thorough health examination, their first set of core vaccinations, a stool sample check, and a microchip administered by Dr. Baum at Hopewell Animal Hospital.

Your puppy will be due for their second round of vaccinations about 2 to 4 weeks after their initial visit with us. Because veterinary clinics often book out well in advance—and some vets prefer to see new puppies within the first few days of arriving home—we recommend calling your chosen clinic now to establish care and ask about their preferred timeline.

 Pro Tip: Bring a bag of high-value treats to your puppy’s first vet visit! Giving them tasty treats throughout their examination ensures they associate the vet clinic with praise, love, and delicious food right from day one.

Building an Unbreakable Bond

Bonding with your puppy right away is just as vital as early socialization. In fact, establishing a secure bond comes before formal training! When a puppy feels completely safe, loved, and secure in your presence, they naturally look to you for guidance, making future training exponentially easier.

That bond begins the moment you pick up your puppy. Having a dedicated passenger cuddle, pet, and speak softly to the puppy in the car on the ride home goes a long way in soothing their nerves and building early trust. Creating predictable daily routines around feeding, snuggling, play, and gentle handling helps your puppy feel secure in their new environment.

Here’s a video from Timberidge Goldendoodles on bonding & body handling activities to do with your puppy.

Tried-and-True Bonding Tips:

1. Assign a Car Companion: Have someone in the vehicle whose sole job is to offer soft comfort and reassurance during the drive home.

2. Establish a Potty Spot Early: Take your puppy to their designated potty area every 30 minutes while they are awake and out of their crate.

3. Give Them Space to Adjust: Let your puppy approach you naturally rather than constantly reaching out to pick them up. It can be overwhelming for a small puppy to be crowded or held nonstop right away. Let them nap when they need to rest!

4. Play Safely with Toys: Always use dog toys during playtime to teach them what is appropriate to chew on. Avoid games where children encourage the puppy to chase them, as this can trigger excitement, jumping, and nipping.

5. Keep Them Close at Night: Your puppy is used to sleeping snuggled up against three littermates. Placing their crate on your nightstand or sleeping on the couch next to their crate for the first few nights provides enormous comfort. If you know they don’t need to go potty, simply placing a reassuring hand against the crate door helps them settle and feel safe.

6. Sit on the Floor: Getting down on their level makes you approachable and inviting.

7. Take Naps Together: Snuggling together for a afternoon nap is a wonderful way to build trust!

8. Redirect Instead of Scolding: Use redirection when your pup gets into mischief. Remember: a puppy who isn’t listening or is acting extra mouthy is usually an overtired puppy who desperately needs a nap!

9. Use Food & Treats: Food is a fast track to a puppy’s heart. Use their kibble or small, gentle treats for bonding games and positive reinforcement (just introduce new treats slowly to protect sensitive tummies).

10. Give Yourself & Your Pup Grace: Building a relationship takes time and patience. Be easy on yourself and your puppy as you both navigate new routines. Take time to step back, slow down, and simply enjoy your new companion!

Whenever you feel frustrated during the thick of early puppy training, take a breath, set the training criteria aside for the day, and focus purely on bonding. Building a strong foundation of love and trust will make tomorrow’s training go infinitely smoother!

 Watch & Learn: Check out this helpful video from Baxter & Bella on Bonding With Your Puppy for more great insights on starting off on the right foot.

Two Week Update: 2 Weeks!

From opening eyes and wobbly little steps to pink noses darkening and lots of chunking up—what a big week it has been for Heidi’s puppies! The 4 pups (Phillip, Winston Churchill, Elizabeth, and Margaret) are still doing plenty of sleeping and eating, and it certainly shows. All four of our little ones have officially crossed the 2lb mark! It is always astounding to watch just how rapidly puppies grow and develop from one week to the next.

Open Eyes

Around day 9, we noticed the very first hints of the puppies’ eyes beginning to open, and now all four have their sweet eyes open! It is a gradual process, and each day we get to see more and more of their bright puppy eyes. It’s incredible how much more they look like tiny, real puppies once their eyes are clear and focused. During this stage, we take special care not to shine any bright lights into their whelping box, as their developing eyes are still very sensitive.

The opening of their eyes marks the puppies’ entry into the transitional period. They are now beginning to visually perceive the world around them and will soon start engaging in true social behaviors. In short, we are right on the cusp of watching each of their unique, sweet personalities start to shine through!

Wobbly Steps & Weight on Their Legs

We have also had the delight of watching the puppies put weight on their legs and take their very first wobbly steps! It is absolutely adorable watching them push up off the floor, balance on those roly-poly legs, and stumble about as they figure out the mechanics of walking. They are moving around their whelping box so much more actively now!

Nail Trimming & Deworming

The puppies received their very first pedicure this week! Their sharp little puppy nails can easily scratch their littermates or mom while nursing, and long nails can even make learning to balance and walk more difficult. Moving forward, the puppies will receive frequent nail trims using baby nail clippers. Trimming their nails early and often also helps desensitize them to having their paws handled. Many adult dogs object to having their feet touched, so establishing a positive, gentle routine now makes future grooming a breeze.

We also administered their first round of deworming medication. They received Nemex-2, and all four thought it was absolute liquid gold! As a standard preventative measure (since worms are very common in young pups), we will continue to deworm them every two weeks. We will also submit a stool sample to our vet during their 6–7 week checkup to ensure every puppy is completely parasite-free before heading home.

Beginning of Socialization

Even at this early stage, spending dedicated, gentle time with the puppies is of utmost importance. As they transition out of their ENS and ESI programs (which wrap up at Day 16), we seamlessly move into intentional early socialization. Simple everyday actions now make a lasting impression on their confidence later in life.

Now that the puppies are active and exploring their space, we have started placing novel items inside their whelping box for them to investigate—things like a clean package of wipes, an empty plastic water bottle, or a soft ball. These simple items stimulate their curiosity and foster inquisitive minds. We also introduce them to different tactile surfaces outside their padded box, like smooth tile flooring. Weather permitting, we love taking them out to our porch individually for a few seconds to catch their very first whiff of fresh country air. And, of course, our absolute favorite part: snuggling, holding, and loving on them daily! Every little interaction builds a foundation for a confident, well-adjusted dog.

Week 2 Conclusion

So much change in just seven days! All 4 puppies are gaining weight steadily—our ultimate reassurance that they are thriving—and Heidi continues to be an extraordinary, attentive mother. We can’t wait for next week as they begin interacting, playing, and toddling around even more! Be sure to follow along on our Instagram and Facebook pages for regular photos and video updates of the royal litter.

Preparing For Your Puppy: Puppy Socialization

Your puppy’s socialization starts right here in our home, but it’s essential that you carry the torch once they join your family! Puppies go through a critical socialization window between 3 and 16 weeks of age. Their experiences during this brief developmental stage shape their adult temperament, confidence, and behavior.

Providing positive, gentle exposures to a wide variety of sights, sounds, smells, new environments, and friendly, fully-vaccinated dogs (remembering that not all dogs enjoy puppy energy!) ensures your pup grows into a balanced, happy companion. The golden rule of puppy socialization is to keep every new interaction short, sweet, and positive.

We highly recommend enrolling in a local puppy socialization class once your pup arrives home! Here’s a checklist with ways to socialize your puppy.

Watch & Learn: Check out Baxter & Bella’s YouTube video on Socializing Your Puppy for a wonderful overview of how to structure early social outings safely.

Discount Code: If you decide to sign up for Baxter & Bella’s full online step-by-step training program, don’t forget to use our code “LandofGoshen” at checkout for 25% off!

Week One Update: The Puppies are Here!

Heidi gave birth to 4 healthy puppies (2 boys & 2 girls) on Monday! The puppies were born weighing between 11.5 oz and 13 oz. All are healthy and dutifully gaining weight, which is our best indicator that they are thriving and doing well. Way to go, puppies!

Inspired by recently watching The Crown with my teenage daughters, we gave this litter royal, majestic names:

Boys: Phillip and Winston Churchill

Girls: Elizabeth and Margaret

Our other dog, Ember, loves the puppies and often takes a peek in at them as they rest and grow.

Altricial vs. Precocial

Puppies are altricial animals, meaning when they are born they are basically helpless and totally dependent on their mother. This stands in stark contrast to precocial animals who are born ready to hit the ground running.

Since we also raise Nigerian Dwarf goats here on the farm, it’s always so fun noting the contrast between the two! Our baby goat kids are up on their feet and ready to run around almost immediately after birth. Puppies, on the other hand, are unable to see, hear, walk, regulate their temperature, or even go to the bathroom on their own.

Amazingly, puppies are born with the instinct to drag themselves toward their mom and cuddle together to stay warm. It is beyond adorable watching them pull themselves toward Heidi with their little heads bobbing back and forth! Thankfully, Heidi is a fantastic mama; her natural instincts kicked in immediately, and she cares for her 4 little ones around the clock.

Activated Sleep

The puppies spend the vast majority of their time sleeping. As they snooze, you will see their little bodies twitch and pop. This twitching and popping is called activated sleep.

The functional purpose of activated sleep is to help build muscle tone and motor coordination. Seeing all that twitching is a wonderful sign that healthy, normal neurological and physical development is occurring!

ENS & ESI

On Day 3, we started ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction):

ENS: First used by the U.S. military (and often referred to as the “Super Dog Program”), ENS involves gently introducing mild, brief stressors to a puppy daily from Day 3 to Day 16. This helps improve their cardio performance, stress tolerance, and immune system later in life.

ESI: Designed to enhance a puppy’s ability to identify and react to specific scents, boosting their nose awareness and overall confidence. It’s an exceptionally helpful program for future service and therapy dogs!

It has been my 11-year-old daughter’s job to implement ESI, and she has had a blast seeing the puppies’ varied responses to different scents. There is no right or wrong reaction, but the puppies make it very clear which scents they enjoy and which ones they don’t! When curious, they take big whiffs; when they don’t care for a scent, they flat-out refuse to smell it. Some of the scents we introduce include cinnamon sticks, dirt, cat fur, cloves, gravel, lavender, mint, and more.

Week 1 Conclusion

We have seen so much growth and development in just seven short days! It’s incredible how much the puppies’ bodies fill out during this first week as they nurse around the clock and begin looking more like miniature puppies rather than little sausages.

We’ve already seen tiny puppy tails wag, are beginning to hear sweet little barks, and are watching them pull their roly-poly bodies up off the floor. With every litter, our amazement is renewed at how perfectly designed these puppies are to survive and how swiftly they grow. Be sure to check out our Instagram & Facebook pages for more photos and video updates!

Preparing For Your Puppy

Now is the absolute best time to start getting ready for your new family member! Doing a little research each week will help you feel fully prepared by go-home day. There are so many topics to cover: crate training, potty training, introducing your puppy to kids or other pets, and teaching bite inhibition.

We recommend starting with Baxter & Bella. They offer a wealth of free resources through their podcast and YouTube videos covering the wide spectrum of bringing home a new pup. Here is a helpful video to get you started on navigating your first 24 hours together:

Crate Training Focus

Understanding crate training is near the top of our priority list. We highly recommend crate training because it makes potty training significantly smoother and keeps your puppy safe from mischief.

Early Exposure: Long before going home, your puppy will be well-acquainted with a crate. When we move them to a larger play area around 4 weeks, we place an open crate inside. It’s astounding how naturally drawn they are to enter and rest inside it!

Overnight Practice: At 6–7 weeks, the puppies begin sleeping overnight in crates so that it feels like a familiar, safe sanctuary rather than a scary or isolating experience.

Tip: When you first bring your puppy home, keep their crate near you (like next to your bed or opt to sleep on the couch next to your puppy’s crate). Transitioning from constant littermate companionship to a brand-new environment is a big adjustment. Keeping them close prevents feelings of isolation and helps them bond with you much faster!

Note on Baxter & Bella: If you opt for their full online training membership, you can use our discount code “LandofGoshen” for 25% off. While online modules are fantastic for early preparation, remember that in-person training classes also offer unique socialization benefits once your puppy is fully vaccinated!